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August 24, 2012

Rangers 8, Twins 0 (F)

ARLINGTON -- Adrian Beltre hit for the cyle, Matt Harrison took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and the Texas Rangers rolled to an 8-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Friday at Rangers Ballpark.

Beltre became the sixth player in Rangers history to hit for the cycle, and it was the second time in his career to accomplish the feat.

Beltre's first three hits came against Twins starter Samuel Deduno. He had an RBI triple in the first, an RBI double in the second and a solo homer to start the fifth. He completed the cycle with a one-out single in the seventh off Twins reliever Kyle Waldrop.

The triple was Beltre's first since 2010.

As Beltre became the sixth player in franchise history to hit for the cycle, Harrison eyed the organization's sixth no-hitter.

Harrison allowed only three base runners on two walks and an error the first six innings. He retired the first two batters of the seventh, including one on a diving catch by David Murphy to rob Ryan Doumit of a base hit.

The next batter, Trevor Plouffe, roped a single to left, though, to break up the no-hit bid. Still, Harrison received a rousing ovation from the 45,823 in attendance, including a standing ovation from the no-hit king himself, Rangers president and CEO Nolan Ryan.

Harrison then gave up a single to Jamey Carroll, but got out of the jam and worked a 1-2-3 eighth. Robbie Ross closed out the game with a scoreless ninth.

The Rangers have won six of their last seven, and maintained a six-game lead in the American League West over Oakland, which beat Tampa Bay.